Candice Glover was crowned the new “American Idol” on Thursday after defeating country singer Kree Harrison. The booming 23-year-old R&B vocalist from St. Helena Island, S.C.Several of the horses used on HBO’s canceled series “Luck” were drugged, underweight and sick during production, an animal rights worker who oversaw conditions on the show alleges in a lawsuit.
Barbara Casey’s suit filed Monday says she was wrongfully fired from her post at the American Humane Association after complaining about the conditions horses faced on the show, which was canceled after a series of high-profile animal deaths.
The suit claims four horses died during the show’s production, not three as previously reported. Horses were “often drugged to perform,” and “underweight and sick horses unsuited for work were routinely used” by producers, her lawsuit alleges.
Casey’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
‘SNL’ taps hosts
Jennifer Lawrence will host the first “Saturday Night Live” outing of the new year, NBC said Thursday. “The Hunger Games” and “Silver Linings Playbook” actress will be joined in her first hosting gig by musical guest The Lumineers on Jan. 19.
A week later, Adam Lavine will make his hosting debut with musical guest Kendrick Lamar on Jan. 26. Lavine has been a musical guest several times as the lead singer of Maroon 5. He is a coach on “The Voice.”
Happy birthday
Among celebrity birthdays today: Actress Barbara Rush is 86. Actress Dyan Cannon is 76. Country singer Kathy Forester is 58. Actress Ann Magnuson is 57. Singer Patty Loveless is 56. Singer Michael Stipe is 53. Actor Dave Foley is 50. Actress Julia Ormond is 48. Singer Deana Carter is 47. Actor Jeremy Licht is 42.
